President Higgins visits flood affected areas

President Michael D Higgins paid tribute to the countless local volunteers and service providers that are keeping flood water at bay in south Co Galway.

Speaking after his visit to the flood-hit village of Labane near Gort on Monday morning, Mr Higgins called for co-operation between the various state agencies and said the frequency of such events was likely to increase.

The President spoke to a number of locals affected by the flooding, people who have been forced from their homes as well as the local volunteers, Civil Defence and Army personnel that have been working in the area.

“I wanted particularly to just hear the details of Labane area. The particular features of it here of course are the number of houses that are isolated and marooned,” said Mr Higgins.

“I wanted to hear the experience that people have had for themselves and for their families and for their animals.

“But I wanted to express my appreciation and gratitude to all of the different agencies that have been working together.

“There has been very great co-operation from the local authority and the army who have been here since the December 9, bring feed to animals as well as looking after the people, the Civil Defence, the community itself.”

The President will visit Enniscorthy in Wexford later this afternoon to see another devastated community, but he called on agencies like the local councils, the Office of Public Works, and the National Parks and Wildlife to continue to work together and to expedite their efforts.

“It’s very important that we not just say that this is wonderful that it’s happening, I wanted to meet the people that in fact [ARE]the front line people, as well as people that are working in the name of the State.

“Then I have been thinking about it as well, in relation to where we have to go now. If there is a lesson I think in it, it is that we must have inter-agency co-operation.

“This is inter-agency cooperation that is first class and it needs to continue in arriving at a strategy.”